Kyle Coetzer scored fifty, including seven fours, having faced 115 balls but was dismissed for 55, trapped lbw off ten Doeschate. Will Smith was the next man returning to the pavilion, the first of three catches for James Foster in this innings, this time to Wright for 44, leaving Durham 130-3.
Durham were 165-5 after Benkenstein and Blackwell added 18 and 17 respectively but were dismissed within four balls of each other, the former caught by Foster off Masters and the latter bowled by Wright.
Phil Mustard was ten Doeschate’s second lbw victim after scoring two runs off 16 balls and Ben Stokes fell to Phillips when he was caught by Foster for 7 which left the hosts 178-7.
Phillips claimed the wickets of Thorp (0) and his replacement, Claydon (4) outright with Liam Plunkett partnering them both and adding fourteen before he was bowled by ten Doeschate. Durham were asked to follow on after their first innings total of 198 left them 286 runs behind the visitors target.
Durham returned to the crease with opener Michael Di Venuto lasting for the rest of the day’s play, scoring fifty off 86 balls, including five fours and ending the day 75*
Kyle Coetzer was bowled by Masters with the third ball of the second innings and Durham were 4-2 after Will Smith nicked the ball to Foster off the fifth ball of Master’s second over.
Dale Benkenstein (fifty off 104 balls including four boundaries) and Di Venuto put on a partnership of over 100 pushing Durham’s total to 147-2 at the close of play on day three.
durhamccc.co.uk spoke to Head Coach Geoff Cook and he gave us his thoughts on the state of play so far, “In terms of the whole game so far, it’s been disappointing, we’ve played in fits and starts in the whole match. We did well up until about 123-1 and then a disappointing collapse.
“Benkenstein and Di Venuto were outstanding in the last session, that partnership has given us something really positive to play for. It was looking like an innings defeat after two overs of the second innings but the two guys pulled it around.
“Credit to Essex, they’ve played with discipline, batting and bowling, and they’ve reaped the rewards. It’s up to us to play with equal discipline on the final day and try to salvage a draw.”
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